Bible Exam (part three)

Theme 1- Conflict/ Doubt

 Throughout the Bible, there has been a series of doubt and conflict. All people have some time in their life struggled with this, or will struggle with this. It is good to ask questions and look for answers. If you never experienced doubt then you are just where you started… Let me give you a better example… People like Joseph, Moses, and David are great followers of God but they also have flaws too.  They make mistakes and messed up, but when they realized when they did something wrong they come to God and repented. It is because of their mistakes that molded them for who they are. They experienced doubt, anger, confusion. By that, they accomplished great things through God.  They became better followers of God through their “dark times.” As a class, we talked about people who doubted God, and why it is sometimes easy for us to doubt God. Death, sickness, and all the evil things around the world can be where many people doubt God. My visual is my grandpa because my family and I had experienced doubt when my grandpa was in the hospital but experienced it more when he died. I didn’t understand why that happened, why him. I knew it was going to happen someday with all my grandparents, but I felt that it was never going to happen.

Theme 2-  Call

 In the bible, there are many times when God called his people to do his wonderful works. But not just in the bible, but also in everyday life. He calls us to change the world for the better. To use our talents to help others, not harm them. It is God’s plan to many things and you play an important role in it too. You can’t run away from God’s plan. God’s calls people in many ways. We all don’t respond in the same way depending on what the situation is. If you were told to move away from your home into an unfamiliar far away place, would you go? You would leave all you know, familiar about behind? It is not always easy to go and do what God called you to do.  Abraham was called to leave his home and go live in a different area. Jonah was called to preach and tell how much the people were sinning. He was called to fix it, but the place he was called to go is evil and sinful. He was scared and tried to hide, but God saw and had a fish swallow him up. No matter how much Jonah tried to hide away from God he couldn’t do it. It is his plan and he is calling you to be a part of it. My visual is the picture of Jonah and the whale, and how he called him to do and act to point others in the right direction.

Theme 3- Slavery/ Salvation

Slavery and Salvation happen a lot during the old and new testament. You can see this by Israelites always going into exile and being saved. It is by their sin that they exiled, but God was forgiving and always brought them out of slavery. Another example that is different and yet the same is with Moses and Joseph. With both Moses and Joseph they were rejected by family and/or the people of Israel. Joseph was rejected by his brother who sold him to some Egyptians. He was a servant and was accused of something he didn’t do, which got him thrown in jail.  By that, he got to experience a life where he helped many people and was not rejected like his brothers had done to him.  Through his rough and not so pleasant times, God had a plan for him. Moses, on the other hand, was rejected by his brother Aaron (at first), and the Israelites, and Egyptians. The Israelites thought he “betrayed” them. The Egyptians thought he should belong working with the Israelites. Aaron hated him because one; he got the attention from his mom. Two; Moses gets to live in a palace when Aaron and other Israelites have to work hard. Moses was the one who was chosen by God to deliver the Israelites from the Egyptians/ Pharaoh. Moses was there with Aaron at his side. Imagine Aaron who first hated him now at his side. God’s plan can bring people together, and that can be said with Joseph and his brothers. Handcuff(s) is my visual because the handcuffs represent exile or the lack of freedom. It also represents our sins are holding us accountable, but it is only through salvation that we are truly saved. Our salvation is through Christ who died on the cross so that we can be given another chance for eternal life.

Theme 4- Sinai Law

 The ten commandments are like God’s wedding vows with Israel. We show love and respect others and God by following the “vows.” The Israelites sometimes strayed from the ten commandments. They strayed from God and his “vows” to do what looks pleasing to them. Once they strayed from God they committed many different kinds of sin that break one or more commandments. Then they need recusing and brought back to the right life that can be only gained through God. They do the same process over and over again by following their own “Golden calf.” Not just the Israelites but their leaders (like Moses) also. Not just the great leader such as Moses but everyone in the old and new testament (with the exception of Jesus). Not just everyone in the old and new testament (besides Jesus), but everyone now and forever will always have a struggle with their “Golden calf” or calves ( with things that look pleasing to them but not necessarily the right thing). These “Golden calves”  can be anything like wealth, popularity, objects, hobbies, etc…My visual is my dog because whenever have food out it pleasant to him and always there waiting for us to drop some so he can just have a taste. Since it looks pleasant why not have maybe just a little, right? What harm could it really do? It looks good so he wants it. Can you relate to that? Have you ever wanted something? Anything at all? I have. I  sometimes find myself trying to be someone I am not to “impress” someone, to be liked (appreciated). I could hurt someone without realizing it.  I need help staying on the right path to try not to be someone who is nothing like me at all. Be who you are meant to be! Don’t let someone or something change you, even if it looks “pleasing” to you.

Theme 5- Sent to the Promised Land

The Israelites had many trials and errors on the way to the Promised land. They complained a lot about God bringing them into the desert to die. The need of water and food, and then complaining of how they are tired of Mana. They experienced a lot of doubt that they had in the Lord to provide what they needed. God sometimes punished them with plagues, like the plague when the snakes bit the people or Israel. They repented and begged God to stop the plague and help them.  God told Moses to my a snake of bronze and if the people look at it their life will be saved. Other times God gave them what they wanted and when they “participated”  in the sin something awful will happen to them. God tried to teach the people of Israel the right from wrong, but they kept on sinning.  One time because of the Israelites sin they had to wander the wilderness for an extra 40 years! As a class we talked about doubt, and how we need to trust God.  My visual is the standing stone in the front of ZCS. I chose this because we need to build a foundation on God. We need to be frim through him and he will help us if we fall. We need to trust God to “support” us, to be our foundation so that we can build off of him. When something is there to harm or try to destroy us (like death, complications, devoricemet, etc… ). As long as Christ is our foundation will remain strong. We might sin, we might fall, but God will be there helping us again and again.

Theme 6- Something is Rotten

 Do you have anything that could, or is draw(ing) away from God? If so then what is it, or why is it drawing you away from God? Maybe it is an object or a device. Maybe it is your talent in something. Maybe it is popularity. It could be anything. These things are not supposed to above God, family, friends (so basically loved ones). If it happens for a certain amount of time (whenever that might be) it can turn “rotten.” Please allow me to explain… Let’s say the Israelites for an example starting to follow other gods. False god(s), and because of their sin the left an awful stench behind. They worshiped (an) other gods and taught their children to believe in the different gods. People are so stubborn and ignorant that they believe whatever they want and thinks it is the truth. It is hard to bring them back, especially if they have been doing it for a long time. A miracle happens to show that God is the one and only God, and still, afterward, they turn away and start to sin. They sin by worshiping other gods, stealing and disrespecting others,  bring harm, etc… My visual is popularity because I struggle with wanting to be recognized and I become someone I’m not. I could an awful stench be hurting someone, or being a bad example. I sometimes wish I could be noticed for my talents and I hope that I don’t hurt someone on the way. I wish that people can get out of their comfort zones and take action by showing love and kindness, and especially acceptance.

Theme 7- Slide to Destruction

  Have you ever made a bad decision? Like bugging your siblings because you know it will get on their nerve. Or deciding to pull a prank on your teacher? Or smart talking to your parents?  These “activities” can get you into a lot of trouble. They can lead to your “slide to destruction” because you could get punished. It could not also affect you, but also others… Like… For instance, you and your family are going to Lost City to do laser tag. Your sibling makes a bad decision by saying bad words to her/his teacher and now as a punishment, you and your family won’t go to laser tag. You might feel disappointed, but you will definitely be mad at your sister or brother for their bad decision. All sins lead to punishments, the Israelites can relate to that. Their leaders made some bad decisions; like when Jeroboam decided to built temple(s) to other gods (s). Which lead others astray. God sent a prophet to teach them (bring them back on the right path). A lot of times because of the sin(s) of the people and their leader they were sent into exile. God made a decision to send his one and only son to die for our sins. So that we may not be exiled from God. He took our blame, shame, wrongdoings, and placed them on his shoulders. God’s love is so great and grand that instead of condemning us he is drawing us closer to him. My visual is soap because when I was younger and said mean and hurtful things I would most likely get soap in my mouth and get sent to my room. I can hurt someone with my words and/or actions. I get punished for saying mean stuff and can get others in trouble too sometimes. We have to think before we do because we don’t know what the consequences might be.

Theme 8- A Savior

 The world is broken and cruel. It is hurtful and full of hatred, but it is also filled with love and compassion. The world might be a broken place, but there is light and good in it also. Jesus brought the light and grace. He brought hope and love. There will always be sin and evil trying to draw you away from God, but God will never let you fall. People might ask; Where is the love? Where is God? They might not see it because of the sin(s) around the world. Come, Jesus, we’ve been waiting for… Come and destroy evil destroy gossip… make people see that it does matter if you are black or white male or female. Demolish the hatred and the jealousy… The world needs a savior, so come, Jesus, we’ve been waiting for. We see the brokenness and hatred, but do we see that God is already starting to change the hatred into love? It might not be perfect, but it is getting better. The Lord is working through people to make the world a better place. Lord, the world is not perfect and needs you to guide it. We need you to change it for your glory. The people old and new testament show the savior is who saves them from exile and/or defeat their enemies. God had in mind to save the people from themselves. To save them spiritually not physically, although sometimes that could mean the same thing. My visual is a cross because that is where Jesus took all the sins of the world and the ones to came onto him to be his own burden. That is where he saved us, and where he will continue to save us.